Friends of Dartmouth Libraries offers film series

"Masterworks of American Art" is the title of the 2013 Molly Little Winter Art Film Series being sponsored by The Friends of the Dartmouth Libraries.

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Posted Jan. 17, 2013 at 12:01 AM

Posted Jan. 17, 2013 at 12:01 AM

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"Masterworks of American Art" is the title of the 2013 Molly Little Winter Art Film Series being sponsored by The Friends of the Dartmouth Libraries.

This marks the 23rd year for this very popular program which is offered on Tuesdays from late January through February, 11 a.m. to noon, in the Haskell Auditorium at Southworth Library, 732 Dartmouth St., Dartmouth.

The upcoming film series is part of an inspiring and informative course produced by "The Great Courses" and is taught by acclaimed art historian Professor William Kloss of Oberlin College. Professor Kloss presents a vivid, museum-quality tour of American art, from its colonial roots to the brink of World War I. He will strengthen your understanding of the trajectory of American painting, the artistry of individual works, and our nation's important role in the development of visual art.

Anyone with an interest in art will greatly enjoy this film series and is welcome to attend any or all the of the sessions which are free and open to the public.

The schedule is as follows:

Jan. 22: "Art in the New World" provides a look at the signature themes, modes, and styles employed by the homegrown artists of the colonial period. "The Genius of Copley and CW Peale" focuses on the interplay between the American and British schools of art during the second half of the 18th century.

Jan. 29: "The 1820s — Art in the Era of Good Feelings" examines how the relative peace of the post-Revolutionary era was echoed in still-life paintings and historical portraits. "Thomas Cole and the American Landscape" will explore the early works of Cole, the first great American landscape painter.

Feb. 5: "American Genre Painting" looks at how the artist, acting as storyteller, captures scenes from everyday life, and how literature, landscape and history interact on the canvas. "Native Americans and Westward Expansion" turns your attention to the American frontier. You will see how some of this period's painters combined sympathy for native people with faith in the concept of Manifest Destiny.

Feb. 12: "The Glow of Peace" highlights how, after the Civil War, artists expressed new hope through images of peace, harvest, and majestic western landscapes. "Art — The Mirror of Social Change" examines those artists and paintings that illustrate post-war social changes such as shifts in gender roles, national identity, and race relations.

Feb. 19: "1885-1900 — Contrasts of Dark and Light" focuses on this dichotomy in Hartnett and Peto's trompe l'oeil illusions and in the works of plein air artists such as Chase and Hassam. "Americans Abroad — Expatriate Painters" examines the works of Whistler, Mary Cassatt and John Singer Sargent.

Feb. 26: "Winslow Homer in England and New England" explores his powerful paintings of seascapes and nature scenes that reflect his time spent in England and New England. "Winslow Homer — The Last Years" highlights his immersion in the natural world — the wilderness, the tropics and the sea.

Snow days will be made up on March 5 and 12 if necessary. The programs will be held as scheduled if the library is open.